[Nearly 60 million Chinese are now using mobile phones. This places China at the number two position worldwide.]

Beijing -- "By the end of June, the number of China's mobile phone users reached 59.28 million, ranking second in the world to the United States, according to Wu Jichuan, Minister of Information Industry.

"From January to June, the number of the country's mobile phone users increased by 15.99 million, said Wu.

"He predicted that during 2001-2005, China's information industry will grow 20 percent, with its added-value in the country's GDP rising about 5 percent.